Receptacle for currency and the like



1966 J. A. EWING RECEPTACLE FOR CURRENCY AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 19, 1965 I N VENT JR.

5 1 llaliiininnavniillfalil-52312511155 (/Bmv ,4 [Wm/5 BY l M, M 2421/ /4'7'ra eA/Er.s

Dec. 20, 1966 J, EwlNG 3,292,849

RECEPTAGLE FOR CURRENCY AND THE LIKE Filed March 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1"... l a", IlllII United States Patent 3,292,849 RECEPTACLE FOR CURRENCY AND THE LIKE John A. Ewing, 1618 Las Vegas Blvd. N., Las Vegas, Nev. 89105 Filed Mar. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 441,168 7 Claims. (Cl. 232-432) The present invention relates to storage receptacles and more particularly to an improved receptacle for currency and the like.

In entertainment spots where gambling is legal, it is common practice for card dealers and the like to collect currency from their customers in exchange for playing chips. Rather than leaving the currency in open tills where it might be misplaced or easily stolen, it is the usual practice to provide each dealer with a locked, metal currency receptacle attachable to the table at which he is working. The receptacle is usually connected to the underside of the table top and has a currency receiving slot communicating with a similar slot in the table. When the dealer receives currency from one of his customers, he simply stuffs it through the opening into the receptacle. When his work is completed, or when the receptacle is full, the dealer removes the receptacle from the table and takes it to the cashier for opening, emptying, and counting of the currency. The receptacle is then relocked and replaced in service.

Unfortunately, the present forms of such currency receptacles are far from tamper-proof.

Also, the mode of attaching such receptacles to the underside of a table is rather unsatisfactory in that the receptacle is free to fall from the table immediately upon detachment from the table. It is therefore necessary for the dealer to firmly hold the receptacle while the detaching operation takes place. This places a rather great physical strain upon the dealer, particularly when the receptacle is full of currency.

Similar problems often exist in theaters where such receptacles are utilized to collect tickets from customers as they enter the theater.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a receptacle for currency and the like which is essentially tamper-proof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a currency receptacle which is readily attachable to and detachable from tables, counters and the like without placing an undue physical strain upon the person transporting the receptacle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a receptacle for currency and the like which is easily attachable to the underside of a table or counter and which includes a money receiving slot which automatically closes upon detachment of the receptacle from the table or counter.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a receptacle of the foregoing type which slides rather than drops from the underside of the table or counter upon detachment therefrom.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a receptacle for currency and the like having a locked door which is shielded to prevent undesired tampering with the contents of the receptacle.

The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages of this invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken with the drawings which, by way of example only, illustrate one preferred form of the present invention.

In the drawings: 7

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of the receptacle of the present invention with a portion of its housing broken away to expose the normally locked door or a closed container;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional side view taken of the receptacle of FIGURE 1 taken along a line 22 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the inner structure of the receptacle including a catch assembly for locking the container to the housing as well as a door arrangement for closing a currency receiving slot in the top of the container;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 2, illustrating the catch assembly, including a vertical pin extending from the outer housing and a slide within the container engaging the pin;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the pin and slide combination of FIGURE 3 with the slide released from the pin, the arrows indicating the direction of travel of the slide to release the pin and the direction of travel of the container upon release of the slide from the pin;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional bottom view of the receptacle taken along .a line 5-5 in FIGURE 2, illustrating the catch assembly, together with the slide door for opening and closing the currency receiving slot in the container;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional side view of the receptacle taken along a line 6-6 of FIGURE 1, illustrating the locking mechanism for the side door in the container; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lock assembly shown in FIGURE 6, taken along a line 7-7 in FIGURE 6 with a central portion of the lock assembly removed.

In the drawings, the illustrated form of the receptacle is represented generally by the numeral 10 and includes an outer, box-like support housing 12, and an inner, closed container 14. The housing 12 is adapted for connection to the underside of a counter, table top or the like and includes a slot 16 for communicating with a similar currency receiving slot in the top of the table.

The container 14 is slidable through an open front 17 in the housing 12 and can be locked within the housing by a key-operated catch assembly 18. In this position, a normally locked side door 20 in the container is covered by a side wall 22 of the housing to prevent tampering with the contents of the container.

In addition to the side door 20, the container 14 also includes a slot 24 in its top for communicating with the slot 16 in the housing 12. Accordingly, to deposit currency into the container, one simply inserts the currency through the slot in the table. When the container 12 is full or it is otherwise desired to remove it from the housing 14, the catch assembly 18 is released. This unlocks the container from the housing and simultaneously closes a door 26 over the slot 24 thereby sealing the container. The container then drops to the forwardly sloping bottom 28 of the housing from which it may be easily removed by grasping a handle 30 connected to the front of the container.

Accordingly, it is not-necessary for the person handling the receptacle 10 to physically support the container 12 while unlocking it from the table or counter to which it is attached. Also, the contents of the container are not accessible when locked within the housing and upon release, the container is automatically sealed to further prevent access except by authorized personnel having keys to the locked side door.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and in particular to FIGURES 1 and 2, the housing 12 preferably includes connecting upper and lower portions 32 and 34. The upper portion comprises a generally flat plate 36 with flanges 38, 4t) and 42 extending downwardly along its right and left and rear edges. The plate 36 is adapted for connection to the underside of a table in such a position that the previously mentioned top opening 16 is aligned with a currency receiving slot in the top of the table, while the flanges are adapted to receive the lower portion 34 of the housing 12. To this end, the lower portion comprises left and right walls 22 and 50, a rear Wall 52 and the bottom 28 connected along corresponding edges to form a four-sided structure having an open top and the open front 17. The lower portion 34 is dimensioned such that the right and left walls 22 and 50 fit within the flanges 40 and 38 of the upper portion 32. In this position, pairs of lugs 54 and 56 carried by the walls 22 and S of the lower portion fit into inverted L-shaped slots 44 and 46 in the flanges 40 and 38 to connect the lower portion to the upper portion. In this regard, the rear wall 52 of the lower portion carries a hand-turnable latch 58 for engaging the flange 42. This prevents forward movement of the lower portion relative to the upper portion when the lugs 54 and 56 are seated within the slots 44 and 46.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the left wall 22 of the bottom portion 34 is outwardly channeled. This allows the normally locked door 20 with its lock 21 to fit with the container 14 within the housing.

More particularly, to allow the container 14 to slide easily in and out of the'housing 12, the container preferably takes the form of a generally rectangular box dimensioned to fit through the open front 17 of the housing 12 and to slide rearwardly therein to the rear wall 52 of the housing In this position, horizontal pins 48 extending forward from the flange 42 pass through holes 68 in the container to align and secure the rear of the container within the housing. By lifting up on the handle 30, the front of the container is locked to the top of the housing by the catch assembly 18.

The catch assembly 18 is most clearly illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and and preferably includes a slide 62 mounted for sliding movement along the underside of the top of the container and having an opening 64 therein, and a pin 66 extending downward from the top 36 of the housing adjacent the open front 18. More particularly, to mount the slide within the container, a pair of pins 68 and 70 extend from the top of the container through elongated slots 72 and 74 in the slide with enlarged head portions extending later-ally beyond the sides of the slots. This secures the slide 62 for lateral sliding movement along the underside of the top of the container while a coil spring'78 normally urges one end of the slide against the side of a key-operated latch 76. The coil spring 78 is connected between a downwardly flanged end 80 of the slide and a cantilever arm 82 extend ing from the front of the container 14. The latch 76 is carried by the turnable barrel 84 of a conventional key-operated lock 86 in the front of the container.

When the lock 86 is in a locked position, the slide 62 engages the latch 76 and the hole 64 is slightly out of alignment with a similar hole 88 in the top of the container. (See FIGURE 4.) The pin 66 extending from the top of the housing, however, is adapted to pass through the nonaligned holes and then to be secured by the slide 62 within the container 14. To this end, the pin includes an annular slot 90 and a cone-shaped lower end 92. The tip of the cone is dimensioned to fit within the small opening defined by the nonaligned holes 64 and 68. The pin 66 is'therefore able to move the slide 62 to bring the holes into alignment and allow passage of the cone into the openings as the container 14 is raised in the housing 12. After the cone tip is within the hole 64,

toward the side 50 of the housing. As this occurs, the

slide moves out of the slot in the pin and the pin is free to pass through the now aligned holes 64 and 80.. The weight of the container then causes the front end of the container to fall away from the top 32 onto the inclined bottom 28 of the housing.

container from the housing.

As previously indicated, the unlocking of the coin tainer 14 from the housing 12 also simultaneously causes the door 26 to close the money receiving slot 24 in I the container 14. To this end, and as illustrated most 1 clearly in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5, the door 26 is of a generally flat construction having a slot 94 therein corresponding to the slots 24 and 16 and in the container and the housing. A pair of vertical pins 96 and 98 extend from the top 99 of the container into elon-.

gated slots 100 and 102 in the door with enlarged heads of the pins extending horizontally beyond the slots. This secures the door for sliding movement along the underside of the top of the container while a pair of springs 1G6 and 108 normally urge the door toward and against a stop 104. The stop extends from the top 99 of the 1 container to the rear of the door and the springs are.

moving from the closed position by the arm 82 (see. To this end, the arm 82 passes through FIGURE 5). an opening 110 in a plate member 111 extending downward from the front edge of the door. When the door is closed, as represented by the broken outline, a shoulder 83 defined by a bend in the arm 82 engages the front edge of the door. 104, prevents the door from being forced open from the outside of the container. However, the door assem-. bly may be manually set and locked in an open position with the slots 94 and 24 aligned to provide ontrance for currency into the container. this, at catch 112 is connected to the plate member 111 and heretakes the form of a bracket having an arm normal to the member 111 and a slot 114 for receiving the latch 76. The door 26 is locked in its open position by opening and reaching through the door 20,

manually aligning the shoulder'83 with the opening. 110

and sliding the door 26 forward. A key is then used.

to turn the barrel 84 to bring the latch 76 into the slot 114 to hold the door open. To again close the door 26, the barrel is simply turned to remove the latch unlock the container from the housing. Thus, operation of the lock 86 simultaneously unlocks the container from the housing and closes the door 26 to seal the container, thereby preventing tampering with the con tainer after removal from the housing.

After the container 14 is removed from the housing 12, the only legitimate entrance to the container is through the normally locked side door 20, and then only by authorized personnel having keys for this purpose. It,

will be appreciated that the key which operates lock 86 should not operate lock 21, so that complete financial accountability can be insured.

The lock arrangement for the door 20 is most clearly illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. As represented,

the lock assembly includes the conventional key-operated lock 21 in the door 20. The lock 21 includes a barrel.

portion 116 turnable upon turning of the lock by a key (not shown). An arm 118 is connected for turning with the barrel and extends beyond an inside lip 120 of the right side of the opening for the door 20.

In this position, it is a simple matter to grasp the handle 30 and slide the This together with the stop To accomplish The opposite end of the arm 118 is pivotally connected by a pin 122 to an arm 124. The arm 124 is supported for sliding movement through a slot 126 in a bracket 128 connected to the inside of the door 20 with an end of the arm extending beyond an inner lip 130 of the left side of the opening for the door. Since the door 20 is hinged along its top to the side of the container, the arms 118 and 124 in extending beyond the lips 120 and 130 define a locked condition for the door. Upon a turning of the barrel 116, however, the arms 118 and 124 assume the positions indicated by the broken lines in FIGURE 6. As illustrated, the arm 118 rotates in a counterclockwise direction away from the lip 120 and draws the arm 124 away from the lip 130. In this condition, the door 20 may be easily raised for access to the contents of the container 14.

From the foregoing, it is appreciated that the present invention provides a currency receptacle which is essentially tamper-proof yet readily attachable to and detachable from tables and the like without placing an undue strain upon the person transporting the receptacle.

In the foregoing, a specific form of the receptacle of the present invention has been described in detail. Modifications and changes, however, may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention be limited in scope only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A receptacle for currency and the like, comprising:

a support housing for attachment to the underside of a table or the like having a slot therein, said housing having an open front for receiving a closed container, a side for covering a side door in said container, a bottom for supporting said container as it slides into said housing, and a top opening for communicating with said slot in said table;

a closed container for sliding within said housing, said container having a first opening in its top for com municating with said opening in said housing, a second opening in its top, and a normally locked side door to be covered 'by said side of said housing;

cooperative means between said housing and said container for releasably locking said container within said housing including a pin extending downward from the top of said housing and adapted to extend into said second opening in said container, and catch means in said container for engaging said pin to lock said container within said housing;

and means for selectively unlocking said container from said housing including means for releasing said catch means.

2. A receptacle for currency and the like, comprising:

a support housing for attachment to the underside of a table, or the like, having a slot therein, said housing having an open front, a closed side, a forwardly and downwardly sloping bottom, and a substantially horizontal top including a top opening for communicating with the slot in said table;

a closed container for sliding within said housing along said sloping bottom with a top of said container spaced from said top of said housing, said container having a first opening in its top for communicating with said opening in said housing, a second opening in its top adjacent the front of said container, and a normally locked side door to be covered by said closed side of said housing;

cooperative means in said housing and said container for releasably locking said container to the top of said housing including a pin extending downward from the top of said housing and adapted to extend into said second opening in said container, and catch means in said container for engaging said pin to lock said container in said housing whereby said container may he slipped through said open front of said hous- 6 ing upwardly along said sloping bottom and the front end of said container then lifted to bring said pin into said second opening and into engagement with said catch means to automatically lock said container in said housing;

and means for selectively unlocking said container from said housing including means releasing said catch means thereby allowing said front end of said container to fall onto said sloping bottom of said housing to permit easy removal of said container from said housing.

3. The receptacle of claim 2, including a top door in said container for closing said first opening in said container and wherein said means for unlocking said container also includes means for closing said top door simultaneously with the unlocking of saidcontainer from said housing.

4. A receptacle for currency and the like, comprising:

a. support housing for attachment to the underside of a table or the like, having a slot therein, said housing having an open front, closed back, sides and bottom, and an opening in its top for alignment with said slot in said table;

a closed container for sliding within said housing, said container having an opening in its top for alignment with said opening in said housing and a normally locked side door covered by said housing;

a pin extending downward from the top of said housing adjacent said open front and positioned to be extended through an opening in the top of said container;

catch means in said container for engaging said pin to lock said container within said housing;

and key operated means for selectively releasing said catch means.

5. A receptacle for currency and the like, comprising:

a support housing for attachment to the underside of a table or the like, having a slot therein, said housing having an open front, closed back, sides and bottom, and an opening in its top for alignment with said slot in said table;

a closed container for sliding within said housing, said container having an opening in its top for alignment with said opening in said housing and a normally locked side door covered by said housing;

a pin extending downward from the top of said housing adjacent said open front and positioned to be extended through an opening in the top of said container;

catch means in said container for engaging said pin to lock said container within said housing;

a generally flat top door mounted for sliding movement across the underside of said top of said container to close said opening;

spring means for urging said top door to a closed position;

latch means for holding said top door in an open position;

and key-operated means for simultaneously releasing said latch means to close said top door, and said catch means, to unlock said container from said housing.

6. A receptacle for currency and the like, comprising:

a support housing for attachment to the underside of a table or the like, having a slot therein, said housing having an open front, closed back, sides and bottom, and an open-ing in its top for alignment with said slot in said table;

a closed container for sliding within said housing, said container having an opening in its top for alignment with said opening in said housing and a normally locked side door covered by said housing;

a pin at the top of said housing adjacent said open front and extending downward for passing through a hole in the top of said container, said pin having a side slot therein;

a slide mounted for sliding movement across the underside'of said top of said container;

spring means normally urging said slide against said pin and into said side slot to lock said container within said housing;

and key-operated means including a cam arm for moving said slide out of engagement with said pin, thereby unlocking said container from said housing.

7. A receptacle for currency and the like, comprising:

a support housing for attachment to the underside of a table or the like, having a slot therein, said housin-g having an open front, closed back, sides and bottom, and an opening in its top for alignment with said slot in said table;

a closed container for sliding within said housing, said container having an opening in its top for alignment with said opening in said housing and a normally locked side door covered 'by said housing;

a pin at the top of said housing adjacent said open front and extending downward for passing through a hole in the top of said container, said pin having a side slot therein;

a slide mounted for sliding movement across the underside of said top of said container;

spring means normally urging said slide against said pin and into said side slot to lock said container within said housing;

a generally flat top door mounted for sliding movement across the underside of said top of said container to close said opening;

spring means for urging said top door to a closed position;

latch means for holding said top door in an open position;

and key-operated means including an arm for moving said slide out of engagement with said pin, thereby unlocking said container from said housing, and for releasing said latch means to close said door.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 329,688 1 1/ 1885 Taylor 23231 753,526 3/ 1904 Sprague 232--31 901,778 10/1908 Bucknam 33215 1,005,662 10/1911 Smith 232--15 1,857,522 5/ 1932 Ungeheuer 10826 1,983,089 12/ 1934 Knee 232,15 2,432,402 12/ 1947 Pay 232-432 2,604,259 7/ 1952 Anderson 23-215 FOREIGN PATENTS 238,481 5/ 1962 Australia.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Examiner. 

1. A RECEPTACLE FOR CURRENCY AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING: A SUPPORT HOUSING FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE UNDERSIDE OF A TABLE OR THE LIKE HAVING A SLOT THEREIN, SAID HOUSING HAVING AN OPEN FRONT FOR RECEIVING A CLOSED CONTAINER, A SIDE FOR COVERING A SIDE DOOR IN SAID CONTAINER, A BOTTOM FOR SUPPORTING SAID CONTAINER AS IT SLIDES INTO SAID HOUSING, AND A TOP OPENING FOR COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SLOT IN SAID TABLE; A CLOSED CONTAINER FOR SLIDING WITHIN SAID HOUSING, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A FIRST OPENING IN ITS TOP FOR COMMUNICATING WITH SAID OPENING IN SAID HOUSING, A SECOND OPENING IN ITS TOP, AND A NORMALLY LOCKED SIDE DOOR TO BE COVERED BY SAID SIDE OF SAID HOUSING; COOPERATING MEANS BETWEEN SAID HOUSING AND SAID CONTAINER FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING SAID CONTAINER WITHIN SAID HOUSING INCLUDING A PIN EXTENDING DOWNWARD FROM THE TOP OF SAID HOUSING AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND INTO SAID SECOND OPENING IN SAID CONTAINER, AND CATCH MEANS IN SAID CONTAINER FOR ENGAGING SAID PIN TO LOCK SAID CONTAINER WITHIN SAID HOUSING; AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY UNLOCKING SAID CONTAINER FROM SAID HOUSING INCLUDING MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID CATCH MEANS. 